Hermangild Francis
Equipping police officers with new vehicles and introducing the use of breathalyzers are amongst the measures to deal with drunk/dangerous driving and the state of road safety on Saint Lucia.
A breathalyzer is a device used for estimating blood alcohol content from a breath sample. Law enforcement may require a breathalyzer for suspected drunk drivers without a warrant after an arrest.
National Security Minister Hermangild Francis has said that these equipment which were procured for use in the Traffic Department of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) are now in Saint Lucia.
However, police officers will first have to be trained to use these equipment before they are introduced to the general public, which the minister said will most definitely carry a cost.
Francis said his ministry is also looking to increase the current fleet of vehicles being used by the Force, explaining that most of the motor vehicles currently in use are over 15 years old.
While explaining that the current budget inherited by the new government does not cater for purchase of these new vehicles, the minister said it is his intention to ensure that this is catered for in the next annual budget.
Francis, a former deputy police commissioner, said by increasing the police vehicles, there will be more frequent patrols on major highways, especially on roadways that are prone to accidents.
He suggested that instead of building more police stations, he would like to see the establishment of various police districts instead, where police officers will be on vehicle patrol in places like Millennium Highway.
“So you would find police officers traversing there and every ten minutes you would see a police vehicle,” he said.
The minister thinks that with a higher police presence, there could be less speeding, drunk driving and there will be less overtaking on busy highways and streets.
Francis has given his commitment to ensuring that the RSLPF is properly equipped.
The government also has plans of building a new police headquarters.
(4)
(1)